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Be wary of the silent killer

The ‘C’ word today that is terrorising mankind irrespective of age, colour, creed or race, creeps up on its victims unannounced and uninvited, rooting itself deep, sometimes slowly and steadily, and at times, at the speed of lightening. It all starts with one body cell going rogue.

Cancer is a mutation, a division of cells that the body’s immune system has no control over. The undeterred division becomes a continuous process, not halting, not pausing; subsequently it flows to other parts of the body mostly using blood vessels as a medium. There is a huge list of types and kinds of cancer that starts from A and does not end at Z.

Cancer does not come knocking, it does not come with a warning, and it gets down to the wear and tear of the human body quietly. It develops when the body’s control mechanism stops working, and cells grow out of control. These new abnormal cells keep forming till they bind together into a mass of tissue known as a tumour. However in some types, such as leukemia, this formation of tumour does not take place.

Tumours are benign as well as malignant, the latter being the more serious ones due to their ability to invade the surrounding tissues and continuously spread throughout the human body. Some malignant tumours also spread throughout the body via the bloodstream: a process called metastasis.

The factors that trigger this cell damage that may eventually lead to cancer are a long list that is subject to much contemplation and debate and is under much scrutiny. These factors include cigarette smoke and other chemicals known as carcinogen. Poor diet, ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn, as well as some infections, are also some widely acknowledged factors.

There are some foods that increase the risk of cancer, while others seem to help our fighting chances. A diet low in saturated fat and red meat can reduce the risk of cancers such as breast and colon cancer, while fibre, fruit and vegetables can strengthen our immunity against them. There are natural chemicals in fruits and vegetables – antioxidants, which cleanse human body of toxins and damaging genes. Smoking is criticised for causing more than a quarter of all deaths that are caused by cancer. Hence, one definite way of improving chances of avoiding cancer is to quit smoking.

Cancer is not a disease inherited, however, some people do inherit an increased risk of cancer because of an altered gene that they might take from either parent, and this altered gene may be important for cell growth or for repair of damaged DNA.

Cancer, the silent killer, is more haunting for its ability to hide its symptoms, or disguise them under pretexts of common ailments. What happens in most cases is that by the time cancer is diagnosed it already has advanced to a stage where probability of treatment working has diminished. The chances of success in treatment are directly correlated to the stage the cancer is at, at the time of diagnosis. This is why awareness is so stressed upon.

Know your body, understand your body, so you are in a better position to judge when you immediately need to seek counsel of your GP. Similarly routine medical checkups should not be tossed aside for the next 5 to 7 years, it should be maintained as an annual agenda, one which is not procrastinated. It is common for us to go see a doctor only when we feel we ‘have’ to, or we are forced to by pain or discomfort to a level where we are unable to go about our daily business. This behaviour, where your health comes second, and a medical check-up is considered necessary only when there is a good enough reason, is why uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells manages to thrive in the body. There is no pride in the fact that you have not been checked by a doctor in the last five years.

The writer is CEO White Ribbon Pakistan and is a development and communications professional with extensive experience in Health Awareness, Behaviour Transformation Communications and Strategic Public Relations. He tweets at @MrOmerAftab.

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A woman builds a family and families build a nation. When a woman falls into despair and dejection, it hampers the wellbeing of a family and if this starts happening at mass level, a society’s development is halted. This is happening to us as 40,000 women die of Breast Cancer every year in Pakistan. This is the time to save all these women because every woman matters.

Unfortunately, we have a paucity of quality healthcare facilities for Breast Cancer patients despite the deep penetration of this disease in our society. Pink Ribbon has taken a historic step in this direction and is building Pakistan’s First Dedicated Breast Cancer Hospital. Support us with your generous donations in completing the hospital.

10.2 million Pakistani women are vulnerable to Breast Cancer but this is not clear whose risk is higher and who can be spared. Thus, it puts every single woman at the cannon’s mouth. As a nation, this is our prime responsibility to play our part in eradicating this killer disease and reduce the female mortality. Join hands with Pink Ribbon and let us make it possible.

It is our moral responsibility to contribute for the welfare and wellbeing of the society we live in. The diseases like Breast Cancer are major detriments for the development of Pakistan and there is a need of a panacea. No one else but we can be the change agents and the saviors to lift our women up from the ashes of misery and pain by making donations to the great cause of Pink Ribbon.

Breast Cancer claims the lives of 40,000 Pakistani women each year. This is largely due to the lack of awareness and healthcare facilities. A majority of victims are diagnosed late and then they have no or limited access to proper treatment. Pink Ribbon is working hard to not only inculcate the awareness of this disease but also build a dedicated hospital to cure it. Help us making this dream true.

The bomb of Breast Cancer is ticking and it can explode anywhere anytime and the victims are destined to go through a hell of pain and sufferings. This bomb can only be disposed of with early detection and adequate treatment of the disease and this is possible when we have in place up to the mark awareness and healthcare facilities. Pink Ribbon is the bomb disposal squad, capacitate them to continue their hunt.

Breast Cancer is a serial killer that is at loose. It can prey on any woman anytime regardless of age, status and ethnicity. It may take on you while you are resting in your cozy homes or working at your dream offices. Pink Ribbon is striving to stop and catch the killer and save every 9th Pakistani woman who is at high risk of Breast Cancer. Let us save our flowers together.

While you are enjoying your lunch at your cozy place, 5 women lose the battle of Breast Cancer in Pakistan. This is the number of women who die every hour due to this fatal disease. This is not stopping anytime unless we put our blood and sweat together in this fight. Pink Ribbon has taken up the cause to eradicate this disease once for all. Back us in this crusade and we will win the battle together.